I spend a lot of time on my treadmill. Partly because I have two small children but mostly because I am getting older and it’s just too much trouble to put on a bunch of winter gear, gloves, hat, tights… just to go out and get sweaty in freezing cold weather. So, I spend a lot of time on my treadmill thinking of stupid things like what I hate about winter training and how to stay motivated through the winter. Here’s what I hate about winter training… see if your list matches mine at all:
- I hate it when I am nice and warm and dry and then have to jump into freezing water to go swimming. Of course, if I had taken a shower like I’m supposed to, I’m probably not freezing as much…
- I hate it when my Ipod dies halfway through a treadmill workout. How am I supposed to run without music??
- I hate it when I first put on my heart rate monitor strap. Man, that is COLD. I should probably invest in strapless.
Ok, that was my bitch fest. There’s lots more, but I don’t want to depress anyone! This article is supposed to be about staying motivated!!
So how do you stay motivated? It’s pretty easy to stay motivated when it’s light and sunny out, and let’s not forget the warm weather either (for those of us in colder climates).
My training is pretty restricted to the indoors in the winter and I’m sure a lot of you can relate. You know who you are, and I bet it’s hard sometimes just to find the motivation to get started.
Some people do find motivation simply by getting outside once in a while no matter what the weather. I’m not one of those people. As I get older, I really don’t see the point training in the dark, freezing cold when none of my races are in these conditions. When I was younger, of course, it was different. But I’ve been at this for over 20 years now and I choose comfort and warmth!
There are a few things that you can do to break up the monotony of winter base training. First (and I know I’m gonna get emails on this one), schedule in a speed workout every once in a while. Now, I’m not talking about a track workout or anything, but just a little speed now and then to change things up. In the pool, you could schedule a time trial or do some intervals. On the bike and run, you could incorporate some fartleks. This is definitely not the time of year to fully incorporate speed; however, throwing one in now and then can keep you motivated.
You could also try a new sport. This is the time of year to have fun and play with cross training. Ever try cross country skiing? It’s great fun and you really don’t have to have that much of a skillset to learn how. (Trust me, if I can do it…) It’s also a great way to incorporate the whole family into your training instead of leaving them behind all the time. Don’t live in a cold climate? Ever try roller blading?
Other cross training winter sport ideas include any type of fitness class, winter hiking, indoor racquetball or indoor climbing. There’s a ton of possibilities to stay fit over the winter while enjoying the benefits of cross training.
The last thing you can do to motivate yourself through the winter is to join a group workout once in a while. A masters swim group, an outdoor cycling ride or an indoor run. It may also be motivating to jump into a winter Duathlon or a road race. Not for time, but for enjoyment and motivation.
There are so many other ideas I could share but the list would be too long. So don’t worry, the days are already getting longer and before you know it, spring will be here! If you’re having the mid-winter training blues, try one or more of these ideas and see if it kick starts your motivation
Written by Cherilyn Suiter, DC Suiter Coaching, specializing in the beginner triathlete - www.dcsuiter.com
USAT & CAC Certified Triathlon Coach
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